CHELMSFORD’S MP told chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne how unemployment had plummeted by more than 30 per cent in the city in just a year - but more work was needed.

Simon Burns said unemployment in his constituency had fallen from 1,959 to 1,353 people overall – a 30.9 per cent drop.

He added there had been a 33.3 per cent drop in the people out of work for more than 12 months, from 486 people to 156.

He said the most dramatic drop, however, was a 36.2 per cent decrease among those aged 18 to 24, from 525 people to 335 in the past year. Mr Burns told him: “Obviously this is very good news, but more work needs to be done to get the figures lower.”

David Burch, of Essex Chambers of Commerce, said he was not at all surprised people in Chelmsford were getting work.

He said: “We’ve not been having any reports from businesses they’ve had to make people redundant and you only have to drive through Chelmsford to see the amount of development going on there.”